EastScene

EastScene’s Shannah Lauren had a chat with Paul Meany, the voice and keyboardist of the critically-acclaimed alt-rock band MuteMath. Meany answers to questions concerning the New Orleans outfit’s past, present, popularity, and close-calls to calling it all off.

To start, let’s go back, how exactly did you get into music personally?
I started playing in church actually, I was that guy that they would come to play any instrument.

So when and how did the band officially get together?
Roy, God, when did I meet Roy? 95′ I believe in college, and then Darren and Greg in 97′. We were all in and out of different bands, and then the pads finally get together.

I must say I love how unique your songs are, especially when compared to the music of the moment. What’s your personal opinion on the music that is most popular nowadays?
Like top 40 music? Well, when I was twelve, let’s see if I can remember. I remember, let’s pull this off the treasure chest for you [laughs]. “Cold Hearted Snake” by Paula Abdul was at the top, and every now and then I will like a song that comes on, but the majority of the music doesn’t resinate with me.

You have just released a new album in August 2009, Armistice. How did you feel about this album compared to your former records?
Of course I really love it, in our mindset we were making the second record, and were all surpassed how well the songs had worked together. At the same time, I’m really tired of this record because it was the record we had to make, and wrote the songs pretty quick. But, we never recorded like that before, and I think it payed off for the whole vibe in the end.

How did your fans respond to the record?
The responses were mixes of youth. We were trying to make this album different than the first record, and I think that effected some bits of our fans. At the same time it’s something we had to do because we weren’t going to make a second record that sounded identical to the first.

I saw that you guys actually were on the verge of breaking up before writing the record, how are you guys doing now after the album is complete?
We are all okay now, we’re actually all on a break right now but our last album saved our band. We had written a list of songs , which the collection of songs truly poisoned the band because of disagreements about the songs being one way or another. And we started working together, and putting our ideas together for the songs on the album.

It’s not always easy when your trying to write but can’t seem to get in the mood, which I experience myself, but since you have a time frame how do you push yourself to do so?
I just try to not think about it and I’m always in singing/writing mode, but it’s not hard to write just writing good stuff [laughs], every time there is an idea that pops into my head, I always go back and think “What was I thinking?!” [laughs]. Writing songs is an on call job and all I’ve ever known really. I tend to write a bunch of bad songs, or songs that just aren’t good enough and then the songs start to get better, and then the good ideas happen more often.

Well it’s like they say, you gotta go through the bad to get the good!
Exactly! Sounds like a new hit title! [laughs]

[Laughs] What inspires you the most when your writing?
Lately? The acoustic guitar. I don’t play guitar, it’s a new instrument to me. I just mess around on the guitar, and see what I come out with. It’s popular for most musicians, but it’s my new medium.

Who influences you the most music wise?
Let’s see, James Taylor, I enjoy The Dooley Brothers, Steely Dan and I love The Strokes. Other than that, some good songs from the 70’s, I’m intrigued by those type of bands. I, I believe that our bands like that though, that everything kinda goes. We take different parts of music and throw them on a recording device and a lot of times the end result of our songs have so many different parts to it of bells, percussions, etc. And I’ve drawn inspiration to those songs.

You’ve done songs for hit movies like Transformers and Twilight, how did it feel to achieve an opportunity like that?
Transformers, we didn’t know what to say! Me and Darren, and well most of the band but mainly Darren and I were big Transformers fans as kids, so we owed it to eight-year-old Paul and Darren [laughs]. As for Twilight, we had no idea what opportunity it really was or how big it really was going to be. I mean the Twilight album is still in the top 20, and on the shelves. It was a real phenomenon, but we were really amazed to be a part of it.

Now being 2010, is there anything that you or your fans should be looking forward to?
This year, we are going to putt on a lot of live stuff. We did a lot of recording and filming the last tour, and we’re ready to do more towards recording Live, and tour. We are also filming a new music video soon, and hopefully by 2011 we will be working on a new album.

You guys are not only brilliant on tracks but play an incredible show. Do you have any routine warm-up before any show or do you just wing it?
[laughs] The one thing that we noticed we do is we leave each other alone and pace around a lot! Then we go on stage with the bright lights and put everything together into one show! That’s how we started doing it so we never changed it, and it seems to have worked out for the best with us.

What is one thing you would love to achieve as a band?
Probably, making records quicker, [laughs] it’s a simple process of evolution. One thing we plan on working on with the next album, is to record quicker. The problem that we always face is the little imperfections wig us out, the bells, the whistles, this isn’t right, that could be better, I really hope can we can not do that as much. Our last album actually only took 3 months to complete, but an additional 9 months of is that right, is that wrong, could that be better, etc.

What do you love to do off of tour and away from music?
I’m boring! I have no hobbies [laughs]. I usually just lock myself in my dark room [laughs] but really I just love being able to see my friends and family while I have off, which I’ve been doing! Plus it’s an incredible time in New Orleans right now because I’m not sure if you heard but the Saints have made it to the Superbowl, so nothing could be better over here.

The music industry seems to be getting harder and harder to make it in, do you have any advice to inspiring musicians or fans who would love to make it in the music industry?
Yeah [laughs], the only thing that has worked for us is to stay in the middle of whats going on, play shows and keep your mindset on the passion in your music. Try to make sure that along the journey you don’t begin to resent what your doing, because there has been a few times that I’ve experienced that and I just slapped myself in the head, and told myself “Why am I not enjoying this?”, because this is what I’ve always wanted and dreamed of since I could remember. We just make things simple, and good for us. Just try to not get too wigged out and realize I’ve always wanted this, and to make music for a living. I just realize I didn’t answer your question at all! [laughs], advice right? My advice is not to listen to a word I have to say! [laughs harder].